Military Reading Lists

I am always on the lookout for reading lists, especially ones that 1) speak to the parents of young children to get them interested in books and 2) speak to high school students and adults to get them to think critically and expand their knowledge/understanding of a broad range of subjects.  Last week, I received a flyer from my local Navy Exchange.  In it was the latest ad for the Navy Professional Reading selections.  I have checked these lists before and have always found some great books here.  This time, while perusing the U.S. Marine Corps Professional Reading List, I found this:

Effective immediately, Commanding Generals and Commanding Officers are to incorporate the new lists into the command and unit professional military education programs.  Each Marine is required to read teh Commandant's Choice, First to Fight:  An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak, USMC (Ret).  Each Marine shall also read a minimum of one book per grade per year.  I strongly encourage Marines to discuss and debate the issues raised by the books on this list to broaden their perspectives and benefit from the experiences of others.  These discussions, conducted professionally, should unite Marines of varying ranks by providing a common literary frame of reference.  Completion of this requirement shall be noted in the individual Marine's proficiency/conduct remarks or fitness report, as appropriate.  How a Marine demonstrates completion of the annual requirement is at the discretion of the command.

Did you catch that?  Each Marine has to read at least two books per year, one from their rank reading list and the Commandant's selection.  For a recruit, that amounts to 1004 pages across just three books.  That is not light reading.  Did you also catch that the completion or non-completion of this assignment is recorded in their professional service record?  I wonder if they get a reprieve from this requirement during combat tours.

Anyway, my purpose in posting this resource is to give the parents of high school students some ideas for books that they may wish to have their children read.  To access all the military professional reading lists, visit the National Defense University Library Professional Military Reading List.  To read any individual list, just use one of the links below.  A quick note:  these lists contain more than just military strategy books.  They also include some classics like 1984 by George Orwell and All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.  Enjoy!

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Professional Reading List
U.S. Navy Professional Reading List
U.S. Marine Corps Reading List
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Reading List
Coast Guard Commandant Reading List
Joint Forces Staff College Commandant Professional Reading List

Titus Brigade

A few weeks ago, a homeschool friend sent some information to me about a new mentoring effort within the homeschooling movement.  Since I am a veteran homeschool mom who still volunteers in my local homeschool community, she thought I might be interested (which I am).  The following is from the website of Mary Hood, Archers for the Lord®:

The Titus Brigade is our new mentoring program.  We are hoping to encourage older, experienced homeschooling mothers and ex-homeschooling mothers to act as mentors to younger, less experienced moms.


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Please help us get the word out about this program.  We're hoping it will grow into a national movement!  New homeschoolers are being barraged with curriculum choices and urged to tie into formal, accredited programs.  They need to be reminded of other choices, and that they can do a good job on their own in a relaxed, family-oriented environment.

I am interested in learning more about this program, possibly to provide a way (through my local homeschool support group) for the veteran homeschool moms in my area to help the younger generation tackle the challenges of home education so that everyone, parents and children alike, enjoy the journey while cultivating a deep desire to understand many different subjects and while learning many different skills and abilities, and doing this on a timeline that fits your family.  If you, too, are a veteran homeschool mom who wants to minister to homeschoolers in your locale, visit Archers for the Lord®.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. --- Titus 2:3-5 (NASB)

Note:  No compensation was received for promoting this program.

Neighborhood Fungus

Photo by Plush Duck

For several weeks, the Japanese maple tree across the street from our house has been sporting this interesting shelf fungus.  My daughter was the first to notice it;  today, I inquired about taking a photo. This is one of those natural phenomena that, if accessible for investigation and discovery, provides a wonderful opportunity for children to learn more.  Here are some study ideas for making the most of a neighborhood fungus:

1.  Take several photos, like the one here.  Get as many close-ups as you can to collect as much identifying data as possible.  You can use the photos themselves for a photography project, while the information about the fungus can be used to direct your research, helping to learn as much as possible (age appropriately, of course) about the particular specimen under investigation.

2.  If you don't have a camera with you, make a sketch of the fungus.  You can use the illustration itself as an art project, or the drawing can serve as an accompaniment to any reports you write or presentations you create.

3.  If you can, take samples of the fungus.  Look at it under a microscope to observe cell structure, etc.  Make a drawing of what you see.  If applicable or desired, color your illustration.

4.  Using the Internet or library books, try to identify the fungus.  If you are having trouble with this task, contact your local nature center for help.  Two useful online resources in this area:

• - Dave Fischer's North American Mushroom Basics
• - MushroomExpert.com

The latter site contains an entire section on studying mushrooms.

5.  If, in the process of identification, it becomes obvious that the mushroom is edible, take the samples you collected and cook them or eat them raw.  Record how you prepare them and what they taste like.

Warning:  I would have this step in the identification process completed by a professional mycologist as some mushrooms can be dangerous.  Shelf fungus, like the one pictured here, are generally NOT edible.

6.  Write about your investigation and discovery results in a journal.

7.  Make a spore print.